Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O'Meara returns in style for Box Hill

Jaeger O'Meara made a terrific return to football on Saturday with a dominant showing in Box Hill's six-point VFL loss to Essendon at Windy Hill.

The high-priced Hawthorn recruit – who didn't play at AFL level in his final two years at Gold Coast due to injury before being traded to Waverley at the end of last season – has been limited to just four senior games in his first year at the Hawks, and hasn't played since round six because of knee issues.

But the midfield gun looked a class above at the lower level, racking up 29 disposals, laying eight tackles and kicking three goals before sitting out the final term.

Earlier on Saturday, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said this match was an important milestone for O'Meara. "We had to make sure the bone stress in his knee was fully repaired," Clarkson said.

"Because there has been so much hysteria around his recruitment, I think it's important for him and our footy club and supporters and just quietening down the hysteria on whether he's ever going to return."

"He gets a reminder of what it's like to play footy again. He has played very little over three years now, so any game is fantastic for him."

Box Hill led by 44 points at quarter-time but the Bombers charged back on a blustery day at their home ground. With scores level deep into the final quarter, Essendon's Daniel Younan goaled to put his side in front, before young Bomber Aaron Francis took a match-saving mark in defence in the dying seconds.

Elsewhere in the VFL on Saturday, dumped Melbourne forward Jack Watts finished with one goal in Casey's 37-point win over the Northern Blues, Port Melbourne thumped Coburg by 160 points in coach Gary Ayres' 200th game at the helm, and Geelong beat Richmond by seven points.